Glass Souls

The eighth Commissario Ricciardi historical mystery from the author of The Bottom of Your Heart will surprise readers at every turn (La Reppublica). In the abyss of a profound personal crisis, Commissario Ricciardi feels unable to open himself up to life. He has refused the love of both Enrica and Livia and the friendship of his partner, Maione. Contentment for Ricciardi proves as elusive as clues to the latest crime he has been asked to investigate. The beautiful, haughty Bianca, countess of Roccaspina, pleads with Ricciardi to investigate a homicide that was officially closed months ago. In the tense, charged atmosphere of 1930s Italy, where Benito Mussolini and his fascist thugs monitor the police closely, an unauthorized investigation is grounds for immediate dismissal and possible criminal charges. But Ricciardi's thirst for justice cannot be sated. A tightly plotted historical noir novel, this eighth installment in the Commissario Ricciardi series is a gripping meditation on revenge and justice in which each character's soul reveals itself to be made of glass. The construction of Glass Souls is remarkable. It's like a very sophisticated mosaic in which each protagonist occupies precisely the right amount of space. -La Reppublica Love, longing, and loss suffuse de Giovanni's elegiac, autumnal eighth Commissario Ricciardi mystery set in 1930s Naples . . . Though Ricciardi risks infuriating his bosses-and unknowingly even greater danger from the Fascist forces who have him under surveillance-he can't resist the conundrum. Nor in all likelihood will readers. -Publishers Weekly A must read for those interested in exploring International Noir. -Mystery Tribune